---
title: "Clergy Sex Scandal Tops Media Coverage of Pope’s Visit"
description: "More than a third (37%) of papal coverage focused on the sex abuse scandal."
date: "2008-05-14"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/05/14/clergy-sex-scandal-tops-media-coverage-of-popes-visit/"
categories:
  - "News Coverage"
  - "Pope Benedict XVI"
  - "Religious Leaders & Institutions"
  - "Sexual Misconduct & Harassment"
---

# Clergy Sex Scandal Tops Media Coverage of Pope’s Visit

A trip designed to revitalize Catholicism in America, Pope Benedict’s recent visit was a tightly scripted event with few surprises; but one unexpected development, his meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, helped turn that issue into the most heavily covered aspect of the trip.[Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/825/pope-visit-media-coverage)